Can cover feeding mechanism



April 4, 1950 f Filed Sept. 25, 1946 F. HUNTAR CAN COVER FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet i A ATTORNEY5 F. HUNTAR CAN COVER FEEDING MECHANISM April 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 4, 1950 F. i-xuNTAR 2,502,459

' cm COVER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 25, 194s '3 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 4, 1950 CAN COVER FEEDING MECHANISM Felix Huntar, Livingston, N. 5., assignor to Ameri can Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Applicationseptember 25, 1946,'Serial No. 699,127

4 Claims. (01. 113-414) This invention relates to a can cover feedin mechanism for separating "and advancing covers from a stack of covers held in a magazine and for passing the covers into a predetermined position and has particular reference to'a feeding mechanism including an adjustable feed finger and a non-adjustable separatin device which mechanism is adapted upon substitution of certain change parts and adjustment of other parts for selectively feeding diiferent sizes of can covers each size having its own path of travel but all such paths passing'into a definite predetermined position irrespective of the size of the cover being fed. In the feeding of can-covers through can maki'ng'machines or the like such machines are usually built for one size of can cover but sometimes "by changing certain of the parts the feeding of a different sizeof cover may be accomplished. In many instances certain of such changeable parts are located in inaccessible places and this greatly limits or defeats the use of the same mechanism for different sizes of can covers.

The present invention contemplates a mechanism which includes certain accessible change parts with provision for minimum adiustment or inaccessible parts to selectively condition the mechanism-for the size desired this being possible-over alarge range of sizes. This is done by separation of the can covers, irrespective of size of cover and magazine holding the same, on the same side together with replacin certain magazinepa'rts so that the covers irrespective of-size have a common tangency at the point of separation with *the center of the magazine for one size necessarily being in a different position from that of another size.

'Theseparated cover of a particular size upon leaving its position in its magazine is moved along an individual path 'of travel and is then brought into a centralized position by the feed finger which deposits the cover in the predeobject of the invention is the provision in a can cover feeding mechanism of a non-remov able non-adjustable cover separating device for separating can covers from a magazine holding one size of can cover, the magazine being replaceable by a different size when it is desired to feed a different size of cover, such-selection being made without disturbing the separating devices Another object of the invention is the provision of a can cover separating and feeding mecha, nism designed for the feeding operation of cov-. ers in a range of cover sizes, selection being made for the size desired, each size having at the time of separation a center position different, from that of a diflerent size of cover but all.

covers irrespective-of size being fed by the mechanism into the same centralized position.

' Another object is the provision in such a mechanism of an adjustable feed finger which is readily shifted from an accessible portion of t the machine into proper position for engaging the centralized position. 1

Numerous other objects and advantages: of the.

' Referring to the drawings:

Figure .l is a top plan view of a portion of a can closing machine including a can cover feed*.

ing mechanism embodying the present invention with parts broken away; 1;:

.Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating "a change in position of the machine parts for feed ing a different size of can cover, with parts broken away and a part in section;

Fig. '3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. l, with parts broken away; i

Fig. 4 is aperspective view showing a detailed portion of an adjustable feed finger for feeding can covers of different diameters; and t Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the details of a universal joint plate for driving the feed finger of the instant feeding mechanism.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate "a can cover feeding mech anism for advancing can covers .of diiierent sizes or diameters along'predetermined and respective paths of travel, into a can closing machine whereupon the covers are secured to filled cans;

Figure 1 of the drawings shows a small size cover A being separated from a cover magazine B for passage along a circular path of travel through a centralized or predetermined position wherein all sizes of can covers will have their centers in the same position. This centralized position may be the pocket of a rotatable turret of a can closing machine which conveys the covers to a suitable place of transfer onto their respective cans.

For the sake of comparison, Fig. l of the drawings also shows a large size cover ,D superimposed in dot and dash lines over the cover A at the cover magazine B and also at the predetermined or concentric position for entrance into the turret. Fig. 2 of the drawings is directed to the feeding of the larger size covers and this view shows the larger covers D in a slightly different position.

All sizes of can covers between and including the sizes A and D (Figs. 1 and 2) are fed from a predetermined position beneath the cover magazine B along different paths of travel according to the size of the cover, for passage through the centralized position.

The magazine 13 from which the covers are fed, holds a stack of one size of covers only, and is replaceable with other magazines of different sizes in accordance with the size of the cover to be fed. This magazine includes a circular ring H having a plurality of vertical stack rods l2 for holding the covers in place. The cover magazine is mounted at the feed-in end of the machine in any suitable manner upon a frame [3 which may constitute the main frame of the machine.

The can covers are fed fromthe bottom of the stack in the magazine (Figure 3) by a helical separator screw I4 disposed adjacent the bottom of the magazine. This screw is used for all sizes of can ends and is therefore a non-changeable part of the machine. The screw is formed with a drive hub 15, mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft l6, journaled in bearings H which are mounted in the main frame l3. Shaft 16 is rotated from its lower end by a drive gear I8 which is carried on the shaft and which maybe driven in any suitable manner.

The hub of the screw l4 serves as a guide for retaining the can ends in their magazine B while the top of the screw provides a circular shoulder or support 2i for the inner edge of the lowermost can cover in the stack. A pair of diametrically disposed helical threads or grooves 22 are formed in the outer periphery of the screw 14 and by means of these grooves individual covers are separated from the stack during the rotation of the drive hub and are lowered into the path of travel of the respective can covers.

A can cover upon separation from its stack is immediately'engagedat a predetermined place on its outer edge, near the center of the cover, by a feed finger 24 and is thus removed from the magazine. There are two of these fingers 24 and they are formed integrally with and extend in oppositedirections from a rotatable body 25. Each finger removes one cover from the magazine. Hence for each rotation of the body 25, two covers are removed from the magazine. The .body 25 has a hub or circular wall 26 which is journaled on a hollow finger support bearing 21 formed as an integralpart of a slide 28 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The bearing 21 is provided with an internal elongated clearance opening 3| through which the shaft 16 passes.

The slide 28 is adjustably mounted on a suitable support 32 of the main frame. For this purpose the slide is formed with a pair of depending co-extensive tongues 33 which operate in a pair of corresponding grooves 34 formed in the upper face of the frame support 32 on either side of the drive shaft I6.

The rotatable finger body 25 is rotated through a universal drive from the shaft iii. For this purpose, the lower face of the separator screw l4 superimposes and drives a universal joint plate 35 (Figs. 3 and 5) which is located on and drives the rotatable body 25.

The plate 35 is a circular member and is formed with a clearance opening 36 through which the shaft Hi passes. The plate 35 is formed with grooves 3'! on its upper face and normally disposed grooves 38 on its lower face. Tongues 39 are formed on the lower face of the separator screw I4 and enter into the grooves 31. In like manner tongues 4| are formed on the upper face of the rotatable member 25 and these tongues enter into the grooves 38.

The feed fingers 24 and their slide 28 just described are shown in their respective positions when feeding the small can covers A (Figs. 1 and 3) or when feeding the large can covers D (Fig. 2). Provision is made for moving these parts from one position to another or into an intermediate position by means of an adjustable screw 42, the inner end of which is secured in the slide 28. The outer end of the adjustable screw 42 carries a hand wheel 43 which is rotatably carried in a slotted opening 44 of the machine frame. Adjusting the position of the slide 28 moves the feed fingers 24 relative to the axis of the shaft l6.

These feed fingers 24 are adjusted to engage the rear peripheral edge of each size can cover A or D or any intermediate size at approximately a mid point so that the propelling pressure point for advancing them along their respective paths of travel will for every size sweep along the line traversed by the cover center. This makes for easier feeding.

While a cover is thus being propelled alongits path of travel it is supported adjacent its inner edge by the feed finger. For this purpose.

each feed finger 24 is formed with a slotted opening 46 (Fig. 4) at its forward end which defines an upper ledge 41 and a lower ledge 48. The profile at the forward ends of the ledges 41, 48 and of the opening 46 preferably is rounded as illustrated in Fig. 4. The ledges 41, 48 are adapted to engage the marginal edge of a can cover therebetween in the opening 46 and this partially supports the cover while it is being advanced.

The can covers A are guided along their path of travel by a circular guide rail 5| having a cover track 52. Such a rail guides the can covers into the turret hereinbefore mentioned whereupon the can cover is transferred onto anotherguide rail 53 having a cover track 54. These guide rails are replaceable with other different shaped rails for different sizes of covers when such covers are to be fed through the machine. It'is these guide rails that define the different paths of travel for the different sizes of covers.

During the transfer of the cover from the cover guide rail 5| to 53, each feed finger 24 moves from its predetermined engaged position, directly in back of the can covers as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and rides inwardly along the periphery of the can cover while it is shifted across the space between the guide'rails 5|, 53. In this manner "the vertical shaft I6.

the finger by-passes or sweeps by the cover and thus holds the cover in place until it is fully supported by the guide rail 53. This also permits the finger to return to the magazine ll for another cover feeding operation. For this purpose the lower ledge 48 extends outwardly along the outer edge of the fingers 24 and provides a cover guide track which supports the cover as it is being advanced.

During the transfer of the can covers from the guide rail 5| to the rail 53 the covers move into position into a pocket 56 of a rotatable turret 57. Pockets 56 are provided with a ledge 58 upon which the cover is disposed as it is advanced along the cover track 54 of the guide rail 53. Turret 5? is mounted on a rotatable shaft 6i which is operated in any suitable manner in time with Turret 57 is replaceable with other turrets having different sizes of pockets in accordance with the size of the covers being fed. This turret advances the can covers to any desired position for being discharged on to their respective filled cans preparatory to sealing.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for feeding can covers, said mechanism being adapted by adjustment and replacement of parts to the selective feeding of different size covers, the combination of a frame, cover separator means mounted in fixed operating position on said frame, a magazine for holding a stack of covers of a selected size, said magazine being interchangeably mounted on said frame adjacent the cover separator means so that the size of magazine may be selected for the desired size of cover, a feed finger having means for mounting the same for rotation about an axis, means for adjusting the position of the finger mounting means relative to the cover separator means at right angles to the axis of rotation of said finger, and means for rotating the feed finger about said axis in any adjusted position of the finger mounting means.

2. In a mechanism for feeding can covers, said mechanism being adapted by adjustment and replacement of parts to the selective feeding of different size covers, the combination of a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of covers, a rotatable drive shaft mounted in said frame, a cover separator mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith for successively separating covers from said stack, a hollow bearing spaced radially from and surrounding said shaft, a feed finger rotatably mounted on said bearing for engaging said separated covers to remove them from said magazine, means for shifting said bearing radially of the shaft for adjusting the effective feeding path of the finger for a selected size of cover, and means connected with said drive shaft for rotating the finger on the bearing in any adjusted position.

3. In a mechanism for feeding can covers, said mechanism being adapted by adjustment and replacement of parts to the selective feeding of different size covers, the combination of a frame, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding a stack of covers, a rotatable drive shaft mounted in said frame, a cover separator screw mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith for successively separating covers from said stack, a hollow bearing spaced radially from and surrounding said shaft, a feed finger rotatably mounted on said bearing for engaging said separated covers for removing them from said stack, a universal joint plate interposed between and connecting said separator screw and said feed finger, and means for shifting said bearing and feed finger radially of said shaft for adjusting the effective feeding path of the finger for a selected size of cover.

4. In a mechanism for feeding can covers, said mechanism being adapted by adjustment and replacement of parts to the selective feeding of different size covers, the combination of a frame, a set of at least two magazines of different sizes for selectively holding stacks of covers of corresponding different sizes, a rotatable drive shaft mounted in said frame, a cover separating device secured to said shaft adjacent a said magazine for successively separating covers from said stack, a set of at least two curved cover feeding tracks for directing separated covers of corresponding different sizes from said stack to a predetermined cover centered position, a slideable support bearing mounted on said frame and surrounding said shaft, a feed finger rotatably mounted on said bearing for engaging and feeding said separated covers along said track to said predetermined cover centered position, means for sliding said bearing and finger on said frame toward and. away from said shaft for adjusting the effective feeding path of the finger for a'selected size of cover, and means connected with said drive shaft for rotating the finger on the bearing in any adjusted position.

FELIX HUNTAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,372 Kruse Apr. 8, 1913 1,545,140 Guenther July 7, 1925 1,633,250 Guenther June 21, 1927 1,805,288 Kruse May 12, 1931 1,895,184 Douglass Jan, 24, 1933 2,032,481 Hopkins Mar. 3, 1936 2,102,605 Bach Dec. 21, 1937 2,311,538 Guenther Feb. 16, 1943 

